of America; and by the President of the United States of Venezuela by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States of Venezuela, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington within twelve months from the date of this present convention, and the publication of the exchange of ratifications shall be notice to all persons interested. In testimony whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have hereunto affixed their signatures and seals. Done in duplicate, in the English and Spanish languages, at the city of Washington, this 5th day of December 1885. "For extensions of the period for exchange of ratifications, see agreements of Mar. 15, 1888 (TS 371), post, p. 1093, and Oct. 5, 1888 (TS 371), post, p. 1095. ARBITRATION OF CLAIMS Convention signed at Washington March 15, 1888, supplementing con vention of December 5, 1885 Senate advice and consent to ratification June 18, 1888 Ratified by Venezuela August 2, 1888 Ratified by the President of the United States August 7, 1888 Entered into force June 3, 1889 Proclaimed by the President of the United States June 4, 1889 1 28 Stat. 1064; Treaty Series 371 CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED States and VENEZUELA TO REMOVE DOUBTS AS TO THE MEANING OF THE CONVENTION SIGNED December 5, 1885 Whereas doubts have arisen in respect of the true intent and meaning of Article IX of the treaty between the United States of America and the United States of Venezuela signed at Washington on the fifth day of December 1885, and, in consequence of such ambiguities, the exchange of ratifications of said treaty has not taken place within the period therein prescribed for such exchange; And, whereas, the High Contracting Parties are desirous of removing all doubts in respect of the meaning and intent of said Article, and of extending the time for the exchange of ratifications of said treaty, to the end of reaching an amicable and honorable solution of the difficulties that now impair their good relations; The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United States of Venezuela, have named as their Plenipotentiaries to conclude a Convention for that purpose, the President of the United States of America, Thomas F. Bayard, Secretary of State of the United States of America; and the President of the United States of Venezuela, José Antonio Olavarria, Chargé d'Affaires of Venezuela at Washington; who, after reciprocal communication of their full powers, found in due and good form, have agreed upon the following Articles: ARTICLE I It is understood and agreed that in the event of any of the awards of the Mixed Commission under the Convention of April 25, 1866,2 being annulled in whole or in part by the Commission authorized and created by Article II of the treaty of December 5, 1885, no new award shall in any case be made by said Commission, to the holders of certificates of any award or awards annulled as aforesaid, in excess of the sum which may be found to be justly due to the original claimant. ARTICLE II The time fixed for the exchange of the ratifications of the aforesaid treaty between the United States and Venezuela signed at Washington on the fifth day of December, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, is hereby extended to a period not exceeding five months from the date of this Convention or sooner if possible. ARTICLE III 4 The present Convention shall be ratified by the President of the United States of America by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by the President of the United States of Venezuela by and with the advice and consent of the Congress thereof, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington as soon as possible within the time specified in Article II hereof as the period of extension of the time for the exchange of ratifications of the treaty signed at Washington on the fifth day of December, 1885. In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed and sealed the present Convention in duplicate. Done at Washington this 15th day of March, A.D., 1888. 2TS 370, ante, p. 1082. 3 TS 371, ante, p. 1085. 4 For an extension of the period for exchange of ratifications, see agreement of Oct. 5, 1888 (TS 371), post, p. 1095. ARBITRATION OF CLAIMS Convention signed at Washington October 5, 1888, supplementing con- Senate advice and consent to ratification December 5, 1888 Ratifications exchanged at Washington June 3, 1889 Entered into force June 3, 1889 Proclaimed by the President of the United States June 4, 1889 1 28 Stat. 1067; Treaty Series 371 SUPPLEMENTARY CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND VENEZUELA, TO FURTHER EXTEND THE PERIOD FIXED FOR THE EXchange of RATIFICATIONS OF THE CONVENTION OF DECEMBER 5, 1885, AND TO EXTEND THE PERIOD FOR THE EXCHANGE OF THE RATIFICATIONS OF THE CONVENTION OF MARCH 15, 1888 Whereas, by Articles I and II of a Convention, signed and concluded by the respective Plenipotentiaries of the United States and Venezuela, in the city of Washington, on the 15th day of March, 1888,2 it was provided that the time fixed by the Convention between the said parties, signed and concluded December 5, 1885,3 for the exchange at Washington of the ratifications thereof, should be extended to a period not exceeding five months from the date of said Convention, to wit, from the 15th day of March, 1888, or sooner if possible, and that the ratifications of said Convention of March 15, 1888, should in like manner be exchanged at Washington within the same period; And whereas the period, as aforesaid prescribed, elapsed on the 15th day of August, 1888, without such exchange having been effected; And whereas it appears that the Congress and Government of Venezuela did, according to the Constitutional forms of that Republic, ratify and confirm the said Conventions at Caracas on the 27th day of July, 1888, and that the President of the Republic of Venezuela did on the 2nd day of August, 1888, fully empower the representative of that Republic in the United States to exchange ratifications thereof with whoever should be duly authorized on behalf of the United States; And whereas the said Conventions having been theretofore duly ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, the Secretary of State of the United States, duly empowered by the President of the United States, was ready on and before the said 15th day of August, 1888, to effect the exchange of ratifications of the said Conventions as stipulated; And whereas, by reason of unavoidable delay, the copy of the said Convention ratified by the Government of Venezuela as aforesaid and the necessary powers to enable the Representative of that Government in the United States to make exchange of ratifications could not be produced in the city of Washington, D.C., until after the expiration of the period so as aforesaid stipulated for the exchange of ratifications; Now, therefore, the Governments of the United States and Venezuela, being desirous of completing and putting in force the two Conventions aforesaid at the earliest day possible, have respectively named as their Plenipotentiaries to conclude a Convention for that purpose. The President of the United States of America, Thomas F. Bayard, Secretary of State of the United States of America, And the President of the United States of Venezuela, Francisco Antonio de Silva, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of Venezuela at Washington; Who, after reciprocally satisfying each other in good and due form of their competency to negotiate to such end, have agreed upon the following Articles: ARTICLE I The time fixed, by Articles I and II of the Convention between the Contracting Parties, signed at Washington, the 15th day of March, 1888, within which to affect the exchange of the ratifications of the Convention between said parties signed at Washington, on the 5th day of December, 1885, and also of the said Convention of the 15th day of March, 1888, is hereby extended to a period not exceeding ten months from the 15th day of August, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, or sooner if possible. ARTICLE II The present Convention shall be ratified by the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof; and by the President of the United States of Venezuela, by and with the advice and consent of the Congress thereof; and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington, as soon as possible within the time specified in Article I hereof as the period of extension of the time for the exchange of |